The north is a captivating and fascinating region of Vietnam and a beautiful place to visit on the motorbiking tour. The diverse scenery is rich in dramatic rising mountains and rice terraces that wrap around the sides. Plus, there are plenty of ethnic minority villages in the region that are relatively unaffected from tourist development and easily visited while passing through the region.
By far the most adventurous way to see the north is by travelling on a motorbike. A motorbike gives greater freedom to travel and admire the awe-inspiring countryside. Plus, it is much easier to set a travel schedule at a relaxed pace and make a regular pit stop for a bowl of pho or other delicious delights.
The motorbiking route that travels through North Vietnam is easily altered in length with the available travel time for the Vietnam holiday. A tour that takes in the best scenery can take two weeks to complete and include riding 1500 km or more. But, this can easily be shortened with plenty of alternative routes and back roads available.
There are plenty of spectacular places to pass through on the motorbiking tour of North Vietnam, including:
Cao Bang
Cao Bang is a wonderful destination to visit on the Vietnam holiday packages and gives easy access to Ban Gioc Falls, which is the 2nd largest waterfall in SE Asia. The misty torrent of water from the thundering cascades is located close to the Vietnam/China border. Plus, this waterfall is viewable from either of these countries.
Bac Can
A relaxing respite after days of travel is certain to be appreciated with a stay in Ba Be Lake - Ba Be National Park. This gives a perfect opportunity to spend one or two nights in a traditional homestay. Trekking is a great way to further explore the local area and meet locals in the nearby ethnic minority villages.
Sapa
Sapa is a favourite destination for travellers in the north of Vietnam on the Vietnam tour. The resort town of Sapa is surrounded with gorgeous mountains, including Mt. Fansipan which has the tallest peak in Indochina. There are plenty of hill tribe villages to visit while in the area.
Ha Giang
Ha Giang is a quite interesting destination that hasn’t yet been fully exposed to high levels of tourism. This region has stunning scenery with its granite and forested limestone mountains. They give panoramic views of the nearby rice terraces. Dong Van is a great place to pass through and a useful base for resting up or tackling the challenging mountain treks. Also, it is a legal requirement to hold a permit to ride in the Ha Giang province, which costs in the region of $10.
Mu Cang Chai
Mu Cang Chai is a region of Yen Bai province with this mountainous district located approx 280 km from Hanoi. This is a popular destination to pass through on the motorbike tours on the Vietnam holiday, and appreciated for its scenic rice terraces.
Lai Chau
Lai Chau gives the postcard perfect scenery of villages, mountains and hills. It is located about 70 km from Sapa and 450 km from Hanoi. Most of the roads are in a relatively good condition and the traffic is generally low.